The unexpected success of this
season's Sharks team continued to roll on Thursday night as the Sharks knocked
off one of the league's best teams in the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 at HP Pavilion.
While their good fortune may be a surprise, their domination over the Canucks
has to be one f the most intriguing sub-plots of the Sharks season. San Jose
knocked off Vancouver for the second time in ten days and holds an 8-2 mark
against the Canucks in their last ten meetings dating back to November of 2001.
Alexander Korolyuk, Jonathan Cheechoo and Alyn McCauley each scored for San
Jose, while Evgeni Nabokov earned his 11th win of the season.

What did
you think of this game? Post your comments on the
Feeder Forums

The Canucks slipped back into a tie with the Colorado
Avalanche for the Northwest Division lead, while the Sharks extended their lead
in the Pacific to seven points over Dallas, Phoenix and Los Angeles.

Tempo was something the Sharks wanted to improve on after their lifeless 3-0
loss to the Stars on Tuesday night, and they responded with considerably more
kick in their step. Vancouver didn't even get a shot on Nabokov until the
Sharks had ripped off eight on losing goaltender Dan Cloutier.

Many of
Cloutier's teammates had to be asking what happened to him on the Sharks first
goal. Korolyuk scored on a wrap around attempt midway through the opening
period after racing up the left wing then zipping around the back of the net.
While Korolyuk was cutting behind the net, Cloutier looked as if he was glued
to the left post, which left Korolyuk with a wide open net on the opposite
side.

Cheechoo would follow up with his 13th goal of the season less
than a minute later by firing a deflection past Clouiter from ten feet out.
Mike Ricci worked the puck off the end boards and deflected a shot off of a
scrum in front of the net. The puck trickled out to Cheechoo for the put back.

As has been customary for much of the season, the Sharks failed to
generate many scoring opportunities in the 2nd period, but Nabokov bailed them
out with a stellar performance in the period. The Sharks netminder would turn
aside all 16 shots the Canucks would generate in the period to preserve the 2-0
lead.

San Jose put the game out of reach three minutes into the 3rd
period when McCauley scored from the left corner after Cloutier misplayed the
puck moments earlier. Cloutier tried to cutoff a loose puck by skating out of
the net to the left dot, but Korolyuk beat him to it and tried to navigate
through traffic to get a shot on net. Cloutier managed to get back in net, but
after Nils Ekman tried firing a follow up shot, the Cancusk netminder drifted
to the top of the crease in order to defend against Ekman's shot. McCauley had
the angle on Clouiter enabling him to throw the puck on net for the Sharks
third goal.

Markus Naslund would follow up with his league leading
25th goal of the season 19 seconds later, but the Sharks buckled down on the
Canucks over the final 16 minutes to deny any comeback attempt by Vancouver.

Play of the GamePick any one
of the three 2nd period Canuck power plays the Sharks were faced to kill off.
Nabokov settled in and smothered everything the Canucks threw his way.

The Turning PointJumping out to a 2-0 lead allowed the Sharks to
settle back and force the Canucks to play catch up. Cheechoo's tally took the
wind out of the Canucks sails coming so soon after Korolyuk's goal.

Save of the GameNabokov stopped a
golden opportunity by Henrik Sedin who had four whacks at the puck from three
feet out. Nabokov had his left skate pinned to the right post and Sedin tried
to poke the puck past Nabokov, but each of the first three attempts were
stuffed. The fourth shot trickled under Nabokov's pad, but he managed to glove
it as it headed for the goal line.

Box Scores Do No
JusticeNo explanation was ever given, but officials reviewed Korolyuk's
goal for several minutes. Mike Rathje appeared to be near the crease when
Korolyuk slipped the puck into the goal, but he didn't appear to be close
enough to Cloutier to warrant an interference call.

Honorable MentionRicci turned in one of his
better performances of the season, helping to generate the Cheechoo scoring
chance and playing solid two -way hockey all night. His 11-for-18 in the
faceoff circle also led all players in faceoff wins.

Quotables"Your offense will improve when you believe your goalie is
unbeatable. You'll take more chances up the ice, and you'll be rewarded. ... We
played really aggressive and attacking hockey, and Nabby was part of the
reason." - Sharks head coach Ron Wilson

"It just basically comes down
to scoring goals, and we're not getting enough goals. We can't rely on Markus
every night. I can only be patient for so long. I'm getting very frustrated." -
Vancouver forward Todd Bertuzzi

"We face everybody pretty well the
same. I think that allows us to execute our plays and do the things that we
want. They are a talented club over there. Maybe that just brings out the best
in us and we're ready, knowing that these guys can bring a lot of offense and
score goals in bunches." - Alyn McCauley

MilestonesAdd Marco Sturm to the injured list.
The Sharks forward injured his chest against Dallas on Tuesday. Scott Parker
was also a scratch (bruised forearm).

Kyle McLaren missed his sixth
game in a row.

What did you think of this game? Post your
comments on the Feeder
Forums

Privacy Statement | Contact Us | AdvertiseCopyright 2003
TheFeeder.com. All rights reserved. This website is an unofficial and
independently operated source of newsand information not affiliated with
any team, or league.